On 30 May a delegation from the Japanese National Institute for Defense Studies visited the Federal Academy to learn about German foreign policy towards China and get in touch with the Academy’s work.
Petra Sigmund, Head of the East Asia Divion at the Federal Foreign Office explained the German perspective on China’s policy in East Asia to the guests from the Japanese National Institute for Defense Studies. Picture: BAKS/Mochow
During a visit to the Federal Ministry of Defense, a course from the Japanese National Institute for Defense Studies (NIDS) also came to see the Federal Academy for Security Policy. Wolfgang Nieter, Head of International Cooperation and Conferences, introduced the delegation to the Academy’s function and tasks. In an open presentation, Petra Sigmund, Head of the East Asia Division at the Federal Foreign office then shed light on the German perspective towards China’s policy in Asia.
During the following discussion, chaired by the President of the Federal Academy Dr. Karl-Heinz Kamp, the visitors focused on issues ranging from North Korea to the situation in the South China Sea. A common concern to all participants was that the current tensions in East Asia could aggravate even further. After the Federal Academy’s Course for Senior Officials’ trip to Tokyo during its Asia journey in early 2016, this visit was a welcome opportunity to further deepen the relationship between NIDS and the Federal Academy.
Author: Ulf Brüggemann